Valerian sucked in a sharp breath when Greengrass leaned in, and although the logical part of him told him it was an instinctive reaction that came from a need for physical support, half a dozen alarms had started off in his mind saying So close. So close. Right there. Close enough to—. He couldn't let himself finish the thought, not with a heat rising up his neck that was fortunately obscured by the high collar of his shirt. He found himself looking Greengrass dead in the eye, and he was right there, and it was impossible to keep his mind off the things he might have done had they been alone.
Greengrass reacted before he did and began to pull away, and for a moment Valerian had forgotten about the entire reason he'd followed Greengrass out of the ballroom. He loosened his grip, but he couldn't bring himself to let go entirely, but it was loose enough to allow Greengrass enough freedom to move around on his own—something he quickly realized he shouldn't have done, because shit, Greengrass' ankle.
His eyes widened as Greengrass stepped backwards and immediately lost his footing. Valerian scrambled forward and tried to catch Greengrass before he hit the floor, one arm hooking under Greengrass' while his other hand caught him at the waist. He didn't succeed at stopping Greengrass from falling altogether, but Valerian was able to lower him the rest of the way to the ground, although Greengrass' legs slid awkwardly between Valerian's own legs as he hovered above him, trying to help him against the wall. "Careful now," he said quietly, although it was less directed at Greengrass and more at his own clunky movements.
Finally he released Greengrass and stepped back, and for a moment did nothing but stand in silence, his gaze fixated on Greengrass'. "Um, I'll just..." He trailed off and lowered himself to the ground, kneeling at Greengrass' feet and feeling terribly awkward about it. He was right in front of Greengrass, his eyes and hands on his ankle, and he could feel his cheeks ears beginning to burn red because he knew Greengrass was looking at him. How could he not be? Usually he wouldn't mind, and maybe if the situation or time had been different he'd want to be seen, but being here was doing nothing but bringing back memories that left him feeling more sensitive and vulnerable than he liked.
Greengrass reacted before he did and began to pull away, and for a moment Valerian had forgotten about the entire reason he'd followed Greengrass out of the ballroom. He loosened his grip, but he couldn't bring himself to let go entirely, but it was loose enough to allow Greengrass enough freedom to move around on his own—something he quickly realized he shouldn't have done, because shit, Greengrass' ankle.
His eyes widened as Greengrass stepped backwards and immediately lost his footing. Valerian scrambled forward and tried to catch Greengrass before he hit the floor, one arm hooking under Greengrass' while his other hand caught him at the waist. He didn't succeed at stopping Greengrass from falling altogether, but Valerian was able to lower him the rest of the way to the ground, although Greengrass' legs slid awkwardly between Valerian's own legs as he hovered above him, trying to help him against the wall. "Careful now," he said quietly, although it was less directed at Greengrass and more at his own clunky movements.
Finally he released Greengrass and stepped back, and for a moment did nothing but stand in silence, his gaze fixated on Greengrass'. "Um, I'll just..." He trailed off and lowered himself to the ground, kneeling at Greengrass' feet and feeling terribly awkward about it. He was right in front of Greengrass, his eyes and hands on his ankle, and he could feel his cheeks ears beginning to burn red because he knew Greengrass was looking at him. How could he not be? Usually he wouldn't mind, and maybe if the situation or time had been different he'd want to be seen, but being here was doing nothing but bringing back memories that left him feeling more sensitive and vulnerable than he liked.
